Ask Inc.: 10 Tips on Countering Lazy Employees

As a manager, few things are more frustrating than employees who aren't living up to their potential. Here are 10 ways to get them going.

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Ask Inc.: 10 Tips on Countering Lazy Employees

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Have a Frank Discussion

Good managing starts with good communication. If you feel a talented employee is underperforming, you need to confront them. Be sure to express where you feel he fits into your organization; he may not understand how important he is.

Set Clear Goals

Does your lazy employee even know what's expected of him? Create targets and make sure your workers understand that it's important to the company they are reached and"¦

Create a Rewards System

Yes, a job well done is its own reward, but you should also incentivize your employees to exceed the goals you've set out for them. These rewards could be monetary in nature, but you could also offer more paid vacation or even the opportunity to work from home occasionally.

Heap on More Responsibility

There's a pretty good chance that your lazy employee is simply bored and could use more responsibility. You'll want to carefully assess where your worker's talents best fit. Creating busy work is never the answer when dealing with an unmotivated person.

Conduct an Internal Audit

The problem you're noticing may not be completely isolated to just one employee. Put together an anonymous employee survey to see what is and isn't working in your office. This could include subjects including work hours, employee interaction and the office environment in general.

Offer More Training

Helping your employees develop new skills lets them know you are committed to their success. Even offering refresher courses on their job can refocus them on the task at hand.

Develop Opportunities for Advancement

Few things can breed malaise in a worker like the thought of being stuck in a go-nowhere job. Just knowing that a promotion is possible can help motivate workers. Periodically adding new job duties could also give them a sense of making a growing contribution.

Offer Them a Change of Scenery

Depending on the duties it entails, doing the same job day in and day out can leave a worker numb. It can also cause them to lose sight of the bigger picture. Consider a job-rotation program, which allows workers to see how the other half lives and how everyone contributes to the company's goals.

Consider Non-job Factors

As hard as it may be to believe, your employees have lives outside of the office. A divorce, sick relative or other hardship might be draining your worker's enthusiasm and energy. Some time off to get their house in order could do wonders.

Figure Out What Interests Them

Hopefully your employee isn't lazy when it comes to every aspect of her job. Take the time to figure out what excites her. Perhaps she does best when working with a group or excels when involved with strategy.